As your hosts, our aim is to provide you with the opportunity to enjoy a different kind of Costa Rica. With spring-like temperatures in a paradise setting, we believe you'll take away memories you won't soon forget. Hush Valley Lodge is nestled in a quiet valley next to the Perez river in the Dota mountains. Explore and discover the diverse wildlife on the property. There are over 200 different species of birds in the area, including the Resplendent Quetzal. Thirty-five acres provide many hiking trails for the ultimate forest bathing experience. Our exclusive B&B accommodation is fully equipped with all the creature comforts. Breakfast is included and dinner meals are available upon request ($15 US per person).

We are happy to organize day trips with local businesses.
Let us know what you'd like to see and experience and we'll do everything we can to help you.

Some guestbook comments since opening January 2013 (before listing on Airbnb and from people who did not book through Airbnb):

January 2, 2014
Dear Anne and Kevin

Thank you so much for sharing your little piece of paradise with us! Your warm care and Hush Valley Lodge were perfect to catch our breath after a long trip through Costa Rica. The hospitality and the delicious food made us feel as if we were coming home. Than you for the special care on the day that I got sick and for the unforgettable special attention with New Year's Eve.

Catching my own dinner was a first – and it was fun! We wish you all the best in this special place and throughout this exciting journey!

Hugs
Nathalie and Mikey
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

December 30, 2013
Anne and Kevin,

We LOVE your piece of paradise and want to thank you for everything, for "living the dream", for your hospitality, the great stories,, the amazing trails, the well-appointed casita, Anne's cooking (yum yum) and Kevin's insights and resourcefulness. This place is so much more than we imagined and the vibe it imparts can only be experienced first-hand (live!). The pictures of HVL aren't even close to the reality that's here. "Oh what a feeling, what a rush" – a sensory extravaganza and a place to detox, unwind and embrace the wonderfulness of nature and of your generosity.

Dear Kevin and Anne, I want to say thank you for giving me the chance to know Hush Valley Lodge. I dont have words to express how happy I was to meet you and experience such an amazing place. Nature is pure, the feeling of water all over the place is magic and seeing so many plants and flowers that I didnt know. Your food was glorious: I ate the freshest trout that I have ever eaten. With all these things, I almost wanted to cry from happiness!!! I definitely will come back!!! I wish you the best with all your projects!!! See you soon!!!

Velia Vicarioli and Francisco Mora
San Jose, Costa Rica

July 14, 2013
Dearest Anne and Kevin,

So, it's lucky we're planning to come back in a few weeks because we don't want to leave your stunning corner of Costa Rica!! Hush Valley Lodge is everything you described and yet that 'feeling' can only be experienced when hearing the rush of the water; witnessing those perfect reflections on the 'lower lake'; sleeping like babies in the casita; and enjoying your warm hospitality. The advice you provided to us before we left Saudi was priceless and meant so much to us – thank you for all your kindness.

We can't wait to see you again
Hugs,
- Leanne and Drew Mills,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

March 23, 2013
Dear Kevin and Anne,

What a wonderful birthday treat and way to wrap up 6 months of backpacking through the States and Central America!
Hush Valley Lodge is truly a small piece of paradise. The cabina is lovely and I felt right at home. Waking up to the beautiful birdsong and the peaceful meander of the Perez river; the farm fresh eggs, butter, apple juice and jam; Anne's delicious trout dinner; walking the riverbed; touring the local sustainable coffee co-op... it's difficult to decide what I loved the most! Although, probably getting to know Anne and Kevin, the great conversations we had about almost everything. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope the both of you continue to love this Costa Rica life so I can return for another visit!

Wish you two the best!
Joy Weick,
B.C., Canada

March 9, 2013
Dear Kevin and Anne,

The drive from Copey, which was great, did not prepare us for the beauty of your driveway, up and over the hill, around the curve to the vista that was going to be our home for 3 days. Or so we thought. So taken were we with everything about Hush Valley Lodge, we stayed five days.

What did we do here? Well, we discovered that the casita offers the best napping environment we have ever enjoyed. It is a very cheerful cabin. We can hear the river right beside us, just the right amount. There is just the right amount of light coming in and dancing around.

We also had the best showers ever; perched outdoors right beside the river, a little shower turret on our little casita castle.

As readers, we were very happy with the comfortable furniture inside and out and the good lighting. And it wasn't just comfortable, it was all so damn attractive.

Hush Valley Lodge is great for lazy people who just want to move their chairs around the property during the day to enjoy different views. But for those of us who like a little activity, it is great, too. Thank you for having a place where we could put on our hiking boots and go for good walks. As you know, I went way up a couple of times on your trails and further up on the road, which was itself picturesque. The vistas were awesome, the walks down a great reward.

It was also very nice during our lazy evenings to have access to SKY TV.

Thank you so much Anne for your delicious meals and your bread! OMG! We really appreciated that we had the option to feed ourselves or be fed. That really worked for us. And thank you for being EVER READY with the wine... you clued in right away that we were those kinds of people. And thank your hens for those eggs. Man, we forgot how lovely fresh eggs are.

And Kevin, thank you for sharing your interest and passion with us. We learned a lot from you and are so impressed with what you have accomplished with this property. It is an amazing piece of property, thank goodness it's got someone like you and Anne to take care of it.

Here's a place for people to recoup, fix themselves, for lovers, for artists and for people like Allan and me. We are very lucky we found you. Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality.
- Ingrid van Rotterdam and Allan Arlett
Ontario, Canada

March 1, 2013
Thank you for a wonderful stay. Accommodations are wonderful. The peacefulness and beautiful setting is most relaxing. We loved the outdoor shower and the sound of the river. Best of luck with your new venture. I believe you will be successful. I will pass your info on to our friends from Florida.
- Mary and Neil Korf
- LeEtta and Loren Flicker
Minnesota

February 12, 2013
Hush Valley Lodge is a serene paradise where relaxation is unavoidable. The guesthouse has every amenity under the sun for a luxurious and comfortable stay. Waking up to the river running and the birds chirping set the tone for what is sure to be a peaceful day.
- Hanna and Nate Sams
Austin, Texas

February 10, 2013
Anne and Kevin, you are remarkable people and your story has been told to many here since our return. I have to admit there is something lacking in our story because this is one of those "you have to see it yourself" kind of thing. You can only fully appreciate what you have done and are doing by visiting you and experiencing your enthusiasm and excitement first hand. We hope you continue on your path and enjoy life as it is intended to be enjoyed.
- Arthur Broady
Washington State

January 23, 2013
Turning off the busy highway, it took only five more kilometres to come over the rainbow and land in Shangri La. All that is missing is Alice and her Munchkins. We love the beautiful and peaceful setting of Hush Valley Lodge, the fresh, clean air and water. Thank you, Kevin, for your tour and explanations of the history and operation of your trout farm. It was great fun to catch our own dinner. You are a true wizard! Anne, you are a great hostess and a great kitchen artist. We loved your meals and see your effort in your beautiful gardens. Back in Ontario, we will start our dream of returning.
- Nicole and Michael Wondergem
Ontario, Canada

January 14, 2013
Paul and I would like to thank you again for the stay at your lodge. This is our last night in Costa Rica and we've been looking back on this trip, and the stay at Hush Valley was definitely one of the highlights! Your casita is so charming and sweet, definitely a very nice place to stay for someone who wants a getaway in paradise! The food and hospitality was also top notch. We will recommend your lodge to anyone we know coming to Costa Rica.
- Christine and Paul
Ontario, Canada

Guest Access

FREE property tour (approx 1.5 to 2 hrs) where guests will have the opportunity to see the process of raising trout from fingerlings to adult stage in our natural ponds. Everything is done in conjunction with nature. Some lucky guests have seen the elusive Quetzal during the tour.

Interaction with Guests

We like to strike the right balance with our guests. We are here for you. Before you arrive, we prefer communicating via email to make sure all your questions are answered. We're also happy to arrange local tours. Having said that, once you're here, we respect your need for privacy and this is why all meals are brought to you to eat in the privacy of the guesthouse. Meal times are flexible based on your preferred schedule. This is your holiday, and we do everything we can to provide you with the best experience.

Getting Around

If you are travelling by car, you will need a 4x4 to get to our place (well, to most places in Costa Rica, actually). We also HIGHLY recommend you rent a GPS.

If you are travelling by bus, we are happy to pick you up at the Santa Maria de Dota bus station. We charge $10 U.S. each way.

If Hush Valley Lodge is your only destination and you prefer not to drive, we can arrange for a shuttle to pick you up at the airport. The drive is approximately 2 hours (depending on traffic). The shuttle cost is $125 U.S. each way.

Other Things to Note

The Los Santos region, where we live, is considered Costa Rica's prime coffee producer. The Coopededota is the world's first carbon neutral coffee processing plant. They provide a tour for $22 U.S. per person and is well worth it, expecially during peak coffee-picking season (January to April).

This region is also known for its bird watching. There are hundreds of species to observe in their natural habitat.

No smoking in guesthouse, please.
No children under 12, please, for safety reasons.
Payment in U.S. dollars or Costa Rican colones. Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit card payment through PayPal will incur a 5% service charge.

IMPORTANT: $89 U.S. per couple PLUS $15 U.S. PER EXTRA PERSON per night (trundle bed available).

We have two dogs, a Miniature Dachshund, Frankie, and an adopted stray, Bobbie McGee. Both roam the property freely, but mostly stay near the main house, and both are friendly... the guesthouse is pet-free.

16 Reviews

Beautiful people, beautiful place. I will start by describing the place. It is difficult to find, and to access(impossible without a 4x4), high on the mountains. But once you are there, you don't want to leave. This lovely couple created a paradise up there, I can't explain it with words, you must see for yourselves. There is a river passing by, everywhere is green, coved with grass and flowers and trees, they even created a waterfall(and a waterfall garden). The house we stayed in has everything you need, and it has a beautiful design. Everything is made of wood, which makes it a very warm place. Also, you have almost 360 view of the outside due to windows located all around. They have a table just outside the property, as well as a hammock under the trees. Absolutely beautiful.

Ann and Kevin were amazing hosts. First, we were greeted by Ann, who was waiting us with an umbrella. She had already started the fire in our house to make it warm. She was very polite, and gave us a very detailed tour of the house, not skipping any detail.

The next day Kevin gave us a 2-3 hour tour of the property, telling us everything about their trout business, their hens, dogs, bulls, the history of the property....etc. Also we loved their new dos, Bobby, who loved to play, and guard us during our hikes in the trails.

They provided us with fresh eggs, baked break for us, had fresh apple juice and jam ready in the fridge, provided best coffee and butter. Also, let Ann prepare the food. We had two dinners, shepard's pie and trout(they let us catch two trouts, one for us, one for them), they were both delicious and plenty. They include salad, vegatebles and desert. We loved the cakes as well.

I hope everything turns out to be better for them. Best wishes Ann and Kevin.

Our family of 4 enjoyed Hush Valley Lodge so much. The photos online really don't do it justice. This was our first stop on our 10 day trip in Costa Rica and when we arrived at our second destination we found ourselves constantly bringing up things about Hush Valley Lodge that we liked better.
We opted to have Anne provide our dinners and we loved everything. Meals were delish! All the breakfast items that were provided were fantastic, the butter, bread, jam, and eggs. My 14 yr old son caught our trout dinner one of the days and it was the best tasting trout. My 12 yr old daughter helped feed the calves and that was definitely a highlight for her.
We loved everything about Hush Valley Lodge, the Casita, the beautiful farm, Anne and Kevin's wonderful hospitality, Bobbie and Frankie, and the trails.
We can't wait to go back!!

Hush Valley is more beautiful than these pictures can show... the natural landscape with its babbling brooks, birds, and variety of trails is quite lovely. But above and beyond that, it is truly Anne and Kevin that make this place so perfect. These hosts genuinely love to host you and are so intuitive to individual needs. They offer a beautiful connection with not only their land and animals but also with the surrounding community. We took both a tour of the nearby coffee plantation/refinery and an incredibly beautiful tour of their neighbor's fruit orchard and old wood forest.

Anne carefully and lovingly prepared and delivered each meal herself and Kevin allowed us to "help" him bring the young bulls in from the pasture and put the chickens back in their coop!

From this mountain view, the stars in the night sky are a supremely romantic sight to behold! I am already thinking of when we can return... for the beauty of the space, but also for the beauty of the people (and animals- let's not forget Bobby) we met!

About the Host, Anne And Kevin

My husband, Kevin, and I are from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. We decided to leave the cold winters of the Great White North and the hustle and bustle of our busy lives to reinvent ourselves in the beautiful mountains of Costa Rica. We pinch ourselves every morning, feeling incredibly fortunate to be living in this paradise setting. And we look forward to sharing it with you!